A - Z Index

A-Z index

Tuberculosis
(TB)

An infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacteriumtuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis. Tuberculosis (TB) is spread when a person with an active infection (TB disease) coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, and then a person nearby breathes in the bacteria. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, and brain. There are two forms of TB: latent TB infection and TB disease. In people with HIV, TB is considered an AIDS-defining condition.